WASHINGTON, D.C. – Freshman Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey plans to give his maiden speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate this week, possibly as early as Monday.

If you’ve been following Booker on Twitter (@CoryBooker), his choice of topics won’t surprise you. The Democrat, who was sworn into office last October, has been traveling around New Jersey talking about — and tweeting about — the need to extend federal long-term unemployment benefits.

“I’ll probably do my maiden speech on #ExtendUI Monday,” Booker tweeted to a follower last week.

The benefits lapsed for 1.3 million Americans on December 28 when Congress adjourned without passing an extension. The expiration has affected more than 90,000 New Jerseyans, according to Booker.

Menendez files brief in support of health care law

Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey filed a friend-of-the-court brief last week in a Supreme Court case about whether for-profit corporations can opt out of providing employees with contraceptive coverage based on their owners’ religious beliefs.

The plaintiff — Hobby Lobby, a chain of more than 500 arts-and-crafts stores — says it shouldn’t have to abide by the contraception mandate under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The government says corporations can’t practice religion.

Under the health care law, federal health officials created a minimum allowable preventive care plan that includes birth control for women. Refusing to provide the coverage could result in millions in fines.

When challenged by for-profit companies and non-profits such as church-affiliated schools, hospitals and charities, the administration backed off somewhat, exempting churches, houses of worship and non-profits.

Businesses received no such break.

Menendez and a group of Senate Democrats filed a joint brief in support of the government’s position, arguing that health services should be provided based on medical decisions made by employees and their doctors, and not on “the personal whims of a CEO.”

“This is an anachronistic world view that has no place in 2014 and no place in a society that values equality,” the senators wrote.

Chiesa back in Washington

One perk of being a member of Congress is that even after you leave office, you retain certain benefits: You can check out books from the Library of Congress, purchase U.S. Senate stationary, use the members-only gym (for a fee) and walk onto the House and Senate floors.

Former New Jersey Sen. Jeffrey Chiesa, a Republican who served in office just five months between Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg‘s death and Democratic Sen. Cory Booker’s swearing-in, exercised one such privilege this past week when he attended his first-ever State of the Union speech.

Chiesa was not yet a senator when President Barack Obama gave the annual speech in 2013, so he missed the experience. Flanked by two former colleagues and sitting one row in front of Booker, Chiesa was able to soak it all in on Tuesday night.

The State of the Union speech is a grand affair that takes place in the U.S. House chamber every year, usually in January. In addition to the president and vice president, all the Supreme Court justices attend, as well as all but one member of the president’s Cabinet, and every member of Congress.

Grabbing a good seat paid off for both Chiesa and Booker when, after the speech, Obama gave them each a hearty handshake as he walked off the podium.

Contact Malia Rulon Herman at mrulon@gannett.com or @mrulon on Twitter